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Saturday, December 6, 2014

A TRUE, LIVE NATIVITY SCENE

"Hush Little Baby Don't You Cry,
Momma's Gonna Sing You
A Lullaby"
........................................
A True, Live Nativity Scene, 
But
Silouettes Aren't Supposed To Move!

Once upon a time ..
not too long ago ...
perhaps it WAS a long time ago, now that I think about it.
No matter ...While sorting through ornaments and lights, holly and wrapping paper 
I remembered a Christmas Pageant celebrated in a small town,
country church ...... and how one tiny baby boy 
brought to a couple of cold hearts the true meaning of Christmas ..... 
.......................
Pastor's Wife called the meeting to order.
"We have to get one important matter settled quickly," she said, peering over spoon shaped glasses balanced at the end of her nose. Her high soprano singing voice did well to project the seriousness of last minute details for the upcoming Christmas Pageant.
"The angels and shepherds, Mary and Joseph, Wise Men and narrator, Pastor John, have all volunteered. With a few exceptions, they're the same volunteers we had last year."
"But we don't have a baby the right age for Baby Jesus," one woman stood up and reminded everyone. "Last year's Jesus is too big and there's no new ......"
"Oh yes there is!" another woman interrupted, leaning forward and rising from her seat.  She looked about at the people gathered on hard wooden pews. "My grandson is just one month old.... perfect age to be Baby Jesus." She sat back down and glanced at those around her.
A hush fell over the gathering.
A few cleared throats and wiggling in seats made it obvious no one was going to immediately second the motion.
 Pastor's Wife clapped her hands delightedly, and approvingly she said, "Of course! He's perfect!"
She banged the podium and said, "I motion that this baby boy will be our Infant in the Christmas Pageant."
A number of heads slowly bobbed in approval, a few hands went up slightly in agreement .... except for one lady who rose and said,
"Nothing personal ...." she glanced at the grandmother of the child. "But .... under the circumstances of his .... umm birth ... it's, umm not appropriate he be our Christ Child .... ummmm."
All eyes turned to Pastor's Wife.
She pulled herself up straight and tall, all 4 ft. 11 inches ... squiggled her shoulders, adjusted her glasses and declared,
"This child is PERFECT to be Baby Jesus." 
And when Pastor's Wife made up her mind about something it was settled.
Last minute details to the Nativity scene were made the week prior to the Christmas Play ....... painting scenery for the stage .... rehearsals and  costumes sewn to fit pudgier or thinner angels for shepherds and wise men that had been worn by last year's participants.

The final dress rehearsal the night before the Christmas Play and all participants were in place.
Pastor's Wife stood before the 
Angels, Wise Men, Shepherds and Mary and Joseph and reminded them how simple this play was for them.
There was no dialogue and nobody moved about.
"Remember as you stand in your spot on the stage that you won't be seen except as silhouettes while Pastor reads the story about the birth of Jesus."
Everyone gathered, and in costume, nodded in agreement ... even the tiniest Angel. And they stood very very still while the lights were dimmed and shifted from one scene to the next as Pastor read the story of Jesus's birth.
When it came time for the silhouette of Mary and Joseph with Baby Jesus, one angel asked," But where's Baby Jesus?"
"Oh, he's at home with his mommy," Pastor's wife answered and giggled, "Probably sound asleep right not. He doesn't need to be here to practice."

Annual Christmas Pageant was about to begin.
All seats in the old church were filled. Lights were down low and candles shone atop the upright piano. Warm winter coats and mittens and scarves were shed and laid across laps and draped over the backs of the pews.
Expectantly, the audience hushed.

During these last moments before the play Baby Boy's mommy was in the foyer alcove nursing him, in preparation for his few minutes of fame held in the arms of "Mary" in the company of "Joseph" and company.
She changed his diaper, wiped the last bit of milk from his tiny chin and adjusted his baby jammies which would be covered in 'swaddling clothes' while being held by 'Mary'.

Lights were dimmed. And a hush fell over the place.
A soft spotlight shone on sheets hanging across wire strung above the stage, concealing Joseph and a very pregnant Mary (stuffed with a pillow at her belly)  silhouetted and holding perfectly still.
And with his strong voice Pastor John read from Luke 2:1-20:
"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world, (this was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)  And everyone went to his own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David."

Lights out. Hustle and bustle to change to the next scene. 

"He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."

The Baby Boy stand-in for Jesus wasn't needed yet ... since the scene silhouetted a seated Mary beside a manger (empty but the audience didn't know that) with Joseph alongside, head down gazing at the cradle.

Lights out. Spotlight shifted to motionless silhouettes of an angel and shepherds along with plastic sheep onstage while Pastor continued reading and Pastor's Wife played softly on the upright piano.

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them ......."

Spotlight shone and made silhouettes of the three assorted sized and standing very still little shepherds, and the angel - a tall teenage girl, wings spanning behind her, standing motionless, arms outstretched .... that is motionless until her right wing began to droop and very slowly she reached up and held onto it before it fell to the stage. A shepherds staff clunked to the floor. "Stand still ... don't pick it up," a soft voice was heard in the background.

" .... but the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you; You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.
Suddenly a great company of heavenly host appeared with the angel, (three more smaller angels silhouetted beside the Big Angel) praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

Pastor's Wife played Hark the Herald Angels Sing and the audience sang along.
Little Angels and Shepherds squirmed a bit during the song, but held as still as any little angel or shepherd could.

Pastor John continued reading, "When the angels left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

"That's your cue," Grandmother said softly to Baby Boy's mommy.
They slipped out of the foyer and dashed alongside the darkened side wall of the church. Once at the stage, obscured by a heavy curtain, Baby Boy was passed to "Mary" and she took her place with the sleeping baby in her arms.

Spotlight shined onto Mary and Joseph, with Jesus cuddled close to Mary's chest. Three small shepherds stood still beside them.
And Pastor John read,
"So the shepherds hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ........"

While Pastor John continued reading about the shepherds and the Wise Men, who stood motionless,
and the spotlight shined onto Mary and Baby Jesus ....
Baby Boy began to wiggle....and coo 
and squirm ...
he poked his little fist into the air and brought it back down to his mouth ...
soft lovely baby sucking noises could be heard.

And sitting in the audience in front of Baby Boy's Mommy and Grandmother were the two ladies who had voted against 
this child portraying Baby Jesus in the annual Christmas Pageant.
But this time they were sniffling and passing tissues to each other,
watching this very special Baby Boy bring to life
the Baby Boy Jesus
who 
brought Peace and Love, Acceptance, Forgiveness and
Salvation to the world.
"Best Christmas Pageant ever!" one lady could be heard whispering to her friend. And the friend nodded and snuffled and said, "Mmmm, I agree. Oh look... look!" she whispered, pointing to the stage.




 Mary lifted Jesus closer to her face as he made soft sounds that babies make when they're hungry.
She tilted her head toward him and began to rock ... slowly and gently. And he was quiet.
The church lights blinked on and chased away the dark shadows in the recesses of the old church.
Audience clapped and Pastor's Wife swept her hand toward the stage. Angels bowed, sending one halo falling to the stage, Big Angel removed her wayward wing, Mary and Joseph beamed and Jesus whimpered and sucked on his fist. One little Shepherd picked up a plastic sheep and a Wise Man tugged at his robe.
Clapping resounded throughout the church. Mommies waved at their little angels and wise men,
and Pastor's Wife led them all in singing 
"Silent Night, Holy Night
all is calm 
all is bright ....."

May this Christmas Season bring you all the 
joy
peace
love 
and acceptance towards all
as happened when the first Christmas babe came into this world.
Merry Christmas
This is a true story.
Monica Lawson 2014






















Wednesday, December 3, 2014


OH CHRISTMAS TREE 
OH CHRISTMAS  TREE .....

"That sure is a puny looking Christmas Tree," Snickers observed, staring up at the ornamental, yarn tree next to the front door. 
 (see him in lower left corner)
"I've had better and bigger live trees .....
but this one is special!" I tell him.
"A cruising friend made it for us when we were at anchor
in the Sea of Cortez 
one Christmas long ago ....." 
We missed our family
and had only a few decorations ... and were far away
from a town to buy a tree - if one could even be found! 
A tiny palm tree just didn't have the charm.
Our cruising friends invited us to their boat for
a pre-Christmas feast.
And with tummies full of good food
and cheery beverages
she gave us a package which contained
this crocheted Christmas Tree. 
Once aboard our boat I added tiny bulbs and baubles and 
good cheer immediately enveloped us.


I took the tree out of the Christmas decoration tub this morning
and struggled as to where to hang it..... kitchen window, nah.
Entry hall mirror ... nah.
bathroom above sink....nah.
Front door ....

Yes. Oh Christmas Tree ... Oh Christmas Tree.
In all your glory
to welcome guests this Christmas season.
Guests may never know the adventures you had with us
for many Christmas holidays sailing from
sea to shining sea.
I could always find a place for you
and you somehow
made our season brighter.

I opened the small box marked,
'NATIVITY SET'
How can such a small box not much bigger than my 
outstretched hand 
contain the 
Holy Family, angels, shepherds, wise men?
Tiny tiny figures ....
a resounding chorus of
"Oh Little Town of Bethlehem...."
Just the right size to display
aboard a boat lacking room for a more grand 
Nativity Scene.
I've never replaced my tiny figurines ....
how loudly they have enfolded my heart
and appreciation for 
a tiny baby born
in the company of 
stable animals.
Yes.... this Nativity reminder is still just the right size.

Ohhh .... "Alice" my little angel. 
She was beautiful when first given to me by
a now long-lost sailing friend named Alice. 
Over time, in and out of Christmas ornament storage boxes
aboard our boat 'Quasar',
  Alice became scrunched and tattered,
her little halo bent and twisted,
her dress crumpled and saggy.
But a kind
creative and artistic cruising friend
took Alice to her boat
and she returned 
new and restored
more beautiful than 
she had ever been.
Her beauty brought back
by the love and talent of a friend..... whose name
I can no longer remember. 
I'll pretend her name also was Alice.

Red and green,
gold and lovely .
My mother, Betty Kaemerer,
created this shiny 
pointsetia .....(sp ?)
She had taken a class 
making Christmas decorations.
A cheery decoration to hang somewhere on our boat.
Over time,
as with Alice my angel,
the beads loosened, the wire bent and beads broke ...
a once lovely handmade gift from Mom,
 aboard the cramped storage in our boat,
looking very sad and misshaped.
I tried to restore and mend with limited success.
Until one day,
a cruising friend said she could fix it as good as new.
And she did.
Mom's handiwork reworked,
still retaining her diligent
loving touch.
A treasured gift from her and another long lost cruising friend,
can't remember this friend's name,
but her face is before me now. 

Two little ceramic angels ..
One is Desi
the other is Monica.
I put a tiny black patch on
Desi angel in memory of my brother
and gave the two of them to my Mom one Christmas.
After she died I brought them back home ....
they bring a smile to my heart ...
remembering Desi .... 
oh how he was loved!
I wonder if Fred, Desi's son, would like 
Desi Angel .... I'll have to ask.

"On a starry night,
in a little town
in a stable,
animals had gathered all around ......."
Humming the lovely melody
to the words of an original
Christmas song
by Vicki, my daughter.
I kept the card over many years
and bring it out 
just so I can close my eyes
and hear her sweet voice
singing a lullaby to the Christ Child and His Mother...
oh yeah .... 
and Joseph! 
He sometimes disappears into the background
with the Shepherds, sheep and lambs,
Wise Men, etc.
taking prominent attention in
the Nativity Scene.


Oh my, little tree in a box, I almost forgot about you!
You were one of our first cruising Christmas Trees ...
bendable, foldable, storable and
scrunched up into a box
for the next Christmas..... wherever that would be 
where our boat would take us.
Tiny, tiny ornaments upon your boughs ...
such a humble little tree.
Yet holds a storehouse of 
memories ... when all we had was 
you to remind us of
grand
giant
Christmas Trees from seasons long ago.
.......................

Christmas 2014

You, little live tree, will soon be all aglow
with a tiny Nativity Scene beneath your fragrant boughs,
a star to shine atop your pointy end,
and seashells hanging from your needles.
Yes ....
seashells collected on warm sandy beaches
beside glistening clear water during our cruises
in the Sea of Cortez.
But where will I hang 
the stockings with care
in hopes that 
St. Nicholas will soon be there.....

It seems I still have lots of decorating to do,
this Christmas 2014.
With 
praise songs,
worship melodies to the New Born King,
Christmas good cheer singing on my Kindle ....
Fa La La La La.... La La La La!
I look forward to celebrating 
this Christmas
because memories of Christmas Past with those 
I have loved
surround me,
bringing good cheer
and blessings to all who enter 
my home this season.
"To all of those that I have loved 
and still do,
sing them my song"
Eldon's memorial song....
rather appropriate
for this 
Season of Joy and remembrance.
Merry Christmas
and Joyous New Year!
























Tuesday, November 25, 2014

THANKSGIVING 2014
A Tribute To My Mom 
Elizabeth "Betty" Kaemerer
1918-2005
Elizabeth "Betty" Kaemerer
1918-2005
Mom sat down at the antique piano 
 in the parlor of the Schminck Memorial Museum 
and began playing Bach, Beethoven, Chopin. 
The same music I heard many nights when I was young as she played after the kids were in bed 
and waiting for my Dad to come home from his midnight job.
Afterwards, Sherrain, the curator, dressed us in period clothing... worn long ago
by mothers and daughters from a time long gone by.

The same songs are playing on my Kindle as I consider what to prepare for 
Thanksgiving 2014 feast in a couple of days.
Mmmmmm ... nice warm memory of one day in our lives.

Thanksgiving memories:
Mom preparing for Thanksgiving days in advance:  chopping, dicing, baking,
stuffing and a little "tiddly" close at hand and ever present cigarette dangling from her lips. 
Thanksgiving feast almost ready .... only waiting for one last tradition.
With cigarette always at hand while stirring and basting
the ash grew
and grew
and at just the right moment
the ash fell
SPLAT
into the gravy.
"Dinner's ready!"  
with Mom's long awaited 
Ash Gravy stirred to perfection.

"More gravy Howard?" I seem to remember her saying.
Whenever we were with her for Thanksgiving she gave the honors
to Eldon to add the final touch of the ash from his cigarette to her Ash Gravy.
......................................................................................................
Colorful leaves are just about done falling .... 
drifting off to nurture the earth for next spring.
Another Fall celebration is at hand.
Thanksgiving 2014

And I'm going to have company for Thanksgiving 2014.
Jill and Gary will be my guests!

They had an early Thanksgiving with their family
last weekend
with a gigantic turkey and all the trimmings.

Hmmmmm ....
what can I fix that will be equally feasty and scrumptous? And just the right amount for only three people?
First thing that comes to mind is
applesauce.
APPLESAUCE?
 you might ask.
Yeah! Made with fresh apples from my friend Lorrie's tree.
...........................
"Did you hear that Ducky and Pheasant  .....
she's not fixing a Turkey for Thanksgiving this year!
I wonder how Turkey feels about that!"

"Well ....." Turkey said in a wee voice,
"I'm curious to hear about that!"
"But what will she cook instead?
Perhaps a 
duck
or goose
or swan
or quail ......
or a bucket of small birds ....."

"Definitely not a CHICKEN .... we taste like turkey......
pardon me, Turkey, for saying so ... chicken is more tender. But much smaller!"
"I agree," peeped Long Neck Chicken. "And our 
necks are too skinny."

"Did you hear the news Ducky? 
Monica isn't fixing a turkey for 
Thanksgiving this year," Swan echoed the rumor.
"Smart of her not to fix Duck .... we're very dry and not much meat on our bones," agreed Ducky.

"Get the giblets out of your beaks ....
speak UP .... I barely can hear you
off here in the bathroom," hollered
Sally Swan.
mumble.... grumble.... gripe gripe gripe
"I always hear the news last .... so far away from the kitchen!"


"Peep ... peep ... chirp .... chirp....Did you hear that Mother Bird?"
Father Bird asked. "Monica isn't fixing a turkey this year ..."
"Yes dear ... I heard. Surely she won't fix a bucket of tiny birds instead!"

"Let's not panic ...... but watch what she's about to do," 
 Turkey said calmly from her perch above the sink.
And they did.

"Looks like apples to me," said Big Red Hen. "Maybe
she's going to stuff the apples into the dressing ....
but what will she stuff the apple dressing into?"
CUT .... CUT ... PEEL ....PEEL ... CORE ....CORE  
PLOP PLOP
BOIL BOIL

SMOOSH ...... SMASH .....POUND AND STIR
ADD SOME SUGAR AND CINNAMON
AND IT'S DONE!

And that is home made applesauce at its best!
To be served with
homemade cranberry sauce
baked beans
scalloped potatoes
vegetables and rolls
and 
dessert
(Jill and Gary are bringing the dessert)
Oh .... I almost forgot!
Served with a baked 
tenderloin pork roast!

Happy Thanksgiving
Happy Memories
Thank you God for our blessings!
(no Ash Gravy this year .... nobody in our family smokes anymore!) 










































Saturday, November 15, 2014


PHOTO PROBLEMS SOLVED! 
 November 15, 2014
And my readers weren't even aware there was a problem
downloading photos to my blog!

I don't share EVERYTHING with you!
But I have three 
go-to helpers 
who are always here to
help and encourage me because  
I am a 
Technically Challenged Blogger
and need all the help I can get when something doesn't work as it should.



Me .....


  Myself .....


and     I


And Google helps out when 
Me, Myself, and I
are at a loss to solve the problem when there is a glitch in my blogpost site.

I switched from
Internet Explorer to Google as my browser 
and that fixed the photo download problem.
 Why?
I'll have to ask Me, Myself or I if they know the answer to that question.



And it snowed last night which gave me a reason to stay indoors and add a new post to my blog.
But for the life of me ..
I don't have anything to write about. 
So I'll just let my fingers do the walking and we'll all be surprised at what I write about.

I know!!!!  I'll post snow photos ....
I love winter.
I love snow.
It covers all the fall weather outdoor chores I neglected to do.
.........
Winter 2007


The first Thanksgiving we were in our new house
we spent it with our children in Seattle area ... 
we hadn't had snow yet ...
just cold cold weather.
Eldon said he was looking forward to seeing the 
first snow and view of the mountains ...
but warm and cozy inside our cute little red house at the top of the hill. 
But it had snowed while we were gone.
We were so disappointed.
Snowflakes
falling
drifting
covering
erasing
white
and we missed it.


It was cold
and stayed cold and we shoveled snow ....
it soon became not so much fun!

So he bought an old, old Ford tractor - he called it Old Red - and practiced driving it
with any helper who wanted a ride..... Conner.

And he built a barn...... Missy helped.
She assured him that she knew how to build stuff
because she took woodshop in school.





And he added a workshop and stalls on either side ...
with Dean and Neal offering advice and
driving nails,
and sawing wood
and drinking beer!


And when it was finished
he drove Old Red into the barn.

When it got very cold ......
very, very cold,
he built a fire in the sturdy
woodstove a friend built for the shop.

Eldon and Perro stayed warm and cozy
no matter how much it stormed and snowed.
He was a happy man ...
a very happy man.
But changes were just over the horizon ......


 Old Red was
old .... and kind of cranky .... difficult to steer and stop,
 load and unload, shovel and dump.

So he bought a new tractor.

Big Blue.
Power steering .... and lots of bells and whistles, he used to say.

Let it snow
let it snow
let it snow!
He was a happy man .....
yes, a very happy man.
And he tried to teach me how to operate Big Blue. 
Hm mmm! 
One time I almost lost control and was sliding down the icy driveway! He yelled and ran after me and Big Blue 
shouting something about the brake .... hit the brake! 
"If I knew how I wouldn't be sliding!" I yelled.
Happy ending to THAT adventure. 

He loved us...... 
loved the three of us .....
Me
Myself
and 
I.
For this I am most thankful!

Happy Thanksgiving!